Free fun in Shreveport-Bossier

Here are ideas for enjoying your visit without spending a lot of bucks.

The Barnwell Garden & Art Center

One of the few combined art and garden centers in the southwest, it is beautifully located along Shreveport's riverfront, adjacent to RiverView Park. The center features a variety of art exhibits and a domed botanical garden conservatory with tropical, seasonal and native plants. The Barnwell boasts a unique fragrance garden for the visually impaired and a gift shop that’s full of one-of-a-kind finds from creative local and regional artists. Location: 601 Clyde Fant Parkway, downtown Shreveport Hours: 10 a.m.-4 p.m, Tuesday-Friday; 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Saturday and 1 p.m.-5 p.m., Sunday Info: 318-673-7703 or www.barnwellcenter.com

Chimp Haven Chimp Haven

A national chimpanzee sanctuary, it is an independent, nonprofit organization whose mission is to provide lifetime care for chimpanzees that have been retired from medical research, the entertainment industry or are no longer wanted as pets. Location: 13600 Chimpanzee Place. Keithville, LA 71047 Info: 318-925-5630 or www.chimphaven.org

Southern University Museum of Art at Shreveport

Home to many artworks and cherished artifacts with historical significance to African and African American cultures and their descendents, the museum is one of two area stops along the state’s African American Heritage Trail. Location: 610 Texas Street on the first floor of the SUSLA Metro Center in downtown Shreveport. Info: 318-670-6631 or www.susla.edu

Ark-La-Tex Sports Museum of Champions

Located inside the Shreveport Convention Center, it’s an exhibit dedicated to each of the more than 100 athletes recognized from the area. 400 Caddo St. Shreveport, LA 71101 318-221-8445 Fax: 318-227-2442 www.Shreveport-Bossier.org

Artspace at the West Edge

Offers an unexpected and unpredictable quality arts experience for diverse audiences. The museum features dynamic artists of all disciplines, a café and children’s art displays. 710 Texas Ave Shreveport, LA 71101 318-673-6535 Fax: 318-673-6543 www.shrevearts.org

Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum

Every 90 days a new, world class exhibit is on display at Karpeles. 3201 Centenary Blvd Centenary Blvd at Atkin St Shreveport, LA 71104 318-861-7615 Fax: 318-861-7697 www.karpeles.org

Meadows Museum of Art

The museum at Centenary College of Louisiana is an educational unit of the college charged with the collection, conservation, preservation and interpretation of visual art works of museum quality from the permanent College Collection inclusive of the Indochina Collection of Jean Despujols. 2911 Centenary Blvd Shreveport, LA 71104 318-869-5169 Fax: 318-869-5730 www.centenary.edu/meadows

Spring Street Historical Museum

Antiques and artifacts are exhibited in Shreveport's oldest building, circa 1865. The museum is listed in National Register of Historic Places and features and original vault, Victorian cast-iron grillwork gallery, Civil War artifacts and much more. 525 Spring St Shreveport, LA 71101 318-424-0964 Fax: 318-424-0964 www.springstreetmuseum.com

The Duck Pond

The official name is East Kings Highway Park, but this wonderful play area along Old River is known to locals as "the duck pond." Lots of play structures, swings, slides, picnic tables, a waterfront location and, of course, the ducks, make this soft-surfaced playground a great place to spend an afternoon! Open dawn to dusk. 1200 East Kings Hwy (on E. Kings Hwy. at Reilly Ln.) Shreveport, LA 71105 318-673-7727 www.ci.shreveport.la.us/DEPT/spar/Parks/sparparks.asp?facility_id=29